Investigation on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Banana/Ramie Hybrid Composites Reinforced with Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles

In this study, hybrid composites reinforced with graphene oxide nanoparticles and woven banana/ramie fibers were fabricated and their physical and mechanical characteristics were examined. Graphene oxide nanoparticles in varying weight percentages (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 wt%) and three different fiber layering sequences (BRBR, BRRB, and RBBR) were used to fabricate hybrid composites using the hand layup method. The physical properties evaluated include density and moisture absorption, and their mechanical properties assessed are tensile strength (TS), flexural strength (FS), hardness, impact resistance, and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). Reduced void content (19.7%) and limited moisture absorption (4.7%) were observed in the banana/ramie composite with RBBR stacking sequence and 6 wt% graphene oxide nanoparticles. Peak tensile modulus was measured at 27.61 MPa and peak tensile strength was recorded at 37.35 MPa when RBBR composites were combined with 4 wt% graphene oxide nanoparticles. The addition of 6 wt% graphene oxide nanoparticles to RBBR hybrid composites increased the flexural modulus by 4.91% and the FS by 170.35 %. Fiber pullout, failure modes, and other fissures inside the hybrid composite were investigated through surface morphological investigation of the specimens using SEM.